their feelings were stirred; but they
failed to have oil in their vessels, be-
cause they did not bring the principles
of godliness into their daily life and
character. They did not fall upon the
rock Christ Jesus, and permit their old
nature to be broken up. This class is rep-
resented also by the stony-ground hear-
ers. Christ said: 'Behold, a sower went
forth to sow; and when he sowed, some
seeds fell by the wayside; and the
fowls came and devoured them up;
some fell upon stony places, where
they had not much earth; and forthwith
they sprung up, because they had no
deepness of earth.' Jesus explains these
stonyground hearers, and says, 'But he
that received the seed into stony places,
the same is he that heareth the word,
and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath
he not root in himself, but dureth for
awhile; for when tribulation or perse-
cution ariseth because of the word, by
and by he is offended.'
"Many receive the truth readily, but
they fail to assimilate truth, and its
influence is not abiding. They are like
the foolish virgins, who had no oil in
their vessels with their lamps. Oil is a
symbol of the Holy Spirit, which is
brought into the soul through faith in
Jesus Christ. Those who earnestly
search the Scriptures with much prayer,
who rely upon God with firm faith, who
obey his commandments, will be
among those who are represented as
wise virgins. The teachings of the word
of God are not yea and nay, but yea
and amen. The requirement of the gos-
pel is far-reaching. Says the apostle,
'Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do
all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giv-
ing thanks to God and the Father by
him.' Whether therefore ye eat, or
drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to
the glory of God.' Practical piety will
not be attained by giving the grand
truths of the Bible a place in the outer
courts of the heart. The religion of the
Bible must be brought into the large
and the little affairs of life. It must
furnish the powerful motives and prin-
64
ciples that will regulate the Christian's
character and course of action.
"Human nature is depraved, and is
justly condemned by a holy God. But
provision is made for the repenting
sinner, so that by faith in the atone-
ment of the only begotten Son of God,
he may receive forgiveness of sin, find
justification, receive adoption into the
heavenly family, and become an in-
heritor of the kingdom of God. Trans-
formation of character is wrought
through the operation of the Holy
Spirit, which works upon the human
agent, implanting in him, according to
his desire and consent to have it done,
a new nature. The image of God is
restored to the soul, and day by day
he is strengthened and renewed by
grace, and is enabled more and more
perfectly to reflect the character of
Christ in righteousness and true holi-
ness.
"The oil so much needed by those
who are represented as foolish virgins,
is not something to be put on the out-
side. They need to bring the truth into
the sanctuary of the soul, that it may
cleanse, refine, and sanctify. It is not
theory that they need; it is the sacred
teachings of the Bible, which are not
uncertain, disconnected doctrines, but
are living truths, that involve eternal
interests that center in Christ. In him
is the complete system of divine truth.
The salvation of the soul, through faith
in Christ, is the ground and pillar of
the truth. Those who exercise true faith
in Christ make it manifest by holiness
of character, by obedience to the law
of God. They realize that the truth as
it is in Jesus reaches heaven, and com-
passes eternity. They understand that
the Christian's chciFtiEle7
--
s1;;;TTcri-dpre-
sent_the character of Chrisr
—
citicrb
—
e full
of grace and truth. To them is imparted
the oil of grace, which sustains a never-
failing light. The Holy Spirit in the heart
of the believer, makes him complete in
Christ. It is not a decided evidence that
a man or a woman is a Christian be-
cause he manifests deep emotion when